Wyberta Johnson was born on August 11, 1920 to Walter and Ellen McCabe Johnson. She was born in New London, Iowa. Wyberta is the sister of Walt’s aunt, Eleanor Johnson Hoel. You can read more about Eleanor here.

Ann, Walt and Wyberta at Eleanor’s 90 birthday party, held in the summer of 2000.

Wyberta was the 6th child born to Walter and Ellen Johnson. Walter worked as an operator at a pump house for the railroad at the time. Later he worked as a station engineer.

By 1940, she had graduated high school and was working in the glove factory in New London as a seamstress. Two of her older brothers also worked there as cutters.

Wyberta worked at the glove factory for 30 years. She lived for a time in Detroit and worked as a clerk for Daimler Chrysler.

Wyberta married Harry Walney in Mount Pleasant, Iowa on Dec 24, 1974. They retired to Florida. After his death in 1978, she returned to Mount Pleasant.

She liked to paint and do needlework and was active in the church. Wyberta died on December 13, 2006 in New London.

Digging Deeper

The glove factory in New London had several owners over the years. Originally started by John Edgar Peterson, it moved in to the building which now houses the Dover Museum & Depot (see more about it here). After his death, it ran for a time as the Fairfield Glove and Mitten Factory and later as the Wainright Glove Factory.