Walton “Wally” J. Johnson was born on January 27th, 1921 in Albright, AB. Wally left his home in Sexsmith to join the Armed Forces in April of 1941, after a few months of training he was sent overseas to England for further training in England and Scotland. He was a dispatch rider with the R.C.O.C. (Royal Canadian Ordinance Corp) and while preparing to go to France he was injured in a motorcycle accident and was in the hospital for a period of six months; this kept him in England. This is where he married Edith “Billie”, while they were stationed in adjourning towns. Wally then applied for Edith to transfer to Canada and she was able to be sent right away. Wally returned to Canada on September 4th, 1945, a day before his oldest son was born. Jim was five days old by the time Wally was able to meet him in Grande Prairie. Wally went on to buy a cartage business with another war veteran – Carl Domstad. He then went on to partner in a taxi service called the “Bluebird Taxi”. He also worked in a mill for a number of years. In 1951 they sold and the family moved out to Spirit River to a home owned by Wally’s mother. They went on to have 15 children. He passed away on November 9th, 1992 at the age of 71, at the Central Peace Hospital in Spirit River. He is buried in the Spirit River Cemetery.
**See biography on Edith “Billie” Johnson, his spouse.
- Memories and Moments, 1983, published by W. W. B. Historical Society, p. 254, 255, 256
- Grande Prairie Daily Herald Tribune, Nov 10 & 11th, 1992
- Chepi Sepe: Spirit River, 1989, Published by Spirit River History Book Committee, P. 529, 530, 531; p. 185 includes a picture.