Flesher crowned queen of kolaches

by Mary Le Arneal
Published 4/9/14

The 12th annual April Fool’s Fest is now history. And for Darlyn Flesher, it’s an event she left with a crown.

Flesher, 69, was crowned Kolache Queen at the Fest held April 1 at the North Bend City Auditorium.

Flesher grew up in Leigh with her mother Wilma Kriz Wolken giving her a few pointers on how to make kolaches.

Birchwood Manor administrator Pamela Griffin presents a plaque and crown to Drlyn Flesher.

After high school she started making kolaches on her own. Now she makes them whenever she has time. The Fremont resident works part time and estimates that she makes kolaches about twice a month along with her other baking, including tea rings and cinnamon rolls. She shares her baking with her family and friends.

Flesher said that she has worked on her kolache making for many years.
“Practice makes perfect,” Flesher said. “The more you do it, the better they are, you learn from experience.”

Flesher said that baking is her hobby. When asked what flavor of kolache is her favorite, she hesitated saying it was a tie between cherry and poppy seed.
Birchwood Manor administrator Pamela Griffin said there were four entrants in the Kolache Queen contest this year.

Over 450 people attended the event that featured delicacies such as liver and onions, Rocky Mountain oysters and gizzards.

“There were local people as well as people from Schuyler, West Point, Scribner, Fremont and Omaha area,” Griffin said. “And probably others but those were some communities identified at the entry door.”

The annual event benefits a different group every year. This year the North Bend Area Senior Center received a $1,000 donation to them buy replacement tables.

<<Back to the front page