Michael Joe Halferty Rater

Michael Joe Halferty Rater 6/4/56 - 4/27/19 I know I’m going to have to pare this down for his memorial folder, but this is what I wrote for my brother... ————————————————————- Michael Joe Halferty Rater (“Liesa Durant”), 62, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family on Saturday, April 27th, 2019, at Taylor House Hospice in Des Moines, IA. Michael had recently been diagnosed with Stage IV lung cancer in March and underwent a grueling brain surgery to remove a softball-sized tumor on March 21st. Michael fought hard in his final weeks to recover and to get “home” to Iowa, and he made it...with his baby sister, Jami, and his best friend, Mark, on either side of him. Wish fulfillled... A memorial service will be held on Saturday, May 11th, 2019, at Prairie Ridge Church (825 NW 36th Street, Ankeny, IA). Visitation with the family will be from 10am - 11am with the memorial service to follow from 11am - 12pm. There will be a Celebration of Life to follow from 2pm - 6pm at The Blazing Saddle (416 E. 5th Street, Des Moines, IA). Michael was born on June 4, 1956 in Salinas, CA, to Joe Halferty and Sondra (Durant) Rater. He and his mother returned to her hometown of Newton, IA, as a small baby. Michael and his family lived in several cities over his childhood, but finally settled in Ankeny, IA, for his school years, where he was raised and loved by his “Dad”, Kenneth Rater. Michael graduated from Ankeny HS in 1974. After graduation, he moved to Minneapolis & Mankato, MN, and then to Omaha & Lincoln, NE, before moving to Atlanta & Cochran, GA, where he spent the last 30 years with the love of his life, Timothy Belflower. Michael attended Capitol School of Hairstyling in Omaha, Nebraska, where he received his cosmetology degree. Michael worked in several salons over the years and was an amazing hair stylist! But, most importantly, Michael was a pioneer in the gay community in Des Moines in the 70’s and 80’s, as well as all of the other cities he lived in. He was the legendary “Liesa Durant”, and was Des Moines’ first Miss Gay Iowa in 1977. He was a founding member of “The Sugar Plum Fairies”, a midwestern traveling drag troupe, which later became “The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence”. Michael could perform like no other. He had “his songs” that no one else could or even dared to touch! He performed everything from Barbra Streisand to Donna Summer to Boy George and just about everything in between. He did it with a sophistication and grace that came naturally to him. He oftentimes used his own hair and those eyebrows...well, let’s just say, if you ever saw them, you for sure remembered them. He was beautiful, inside and out, was an amazing cook and decorator, and had style and class that was the envy of many, not to mention a sense of humor and sarcasm that was second to none! Michael loved and cherished his family and friends across the miles. He also deeply loved his dogs, Beaudine and Rufus, whom he tragically was never able to say goodbye to. We were fortunate enough to have two special canine angels visit Michael in his final days, Nugget and Buddy. I am certain Michael knew they were there and felt their kisses and their touch. Michael is survived by his beloved mother and first friend, Sondra Ratliff of Raymore, MO, sister, Lani (Raleigh) Kirschman of Salem, OR, sister, Kelli Wright of Elkhart, IA, brother, Jeff (Tommie) Rater of Carrollton, MO, and his baby sister, Jami (Todd) Martin of Ankeny, IA. Numerous beloved nieces & nephews...Amber Daniels, April Friesner, Erika Rater, Kennedy Rater, Ashley Heins, Amber Ritchhart, TJ Rater, Austin Anderson, Kristina Anderson, and Alex Martin, and several great-nieces and nephews, and his entire Halferty family in Newton. Michael is also survived by his very best friend of over 45 years, Mark (“Marcie Durant”) Brown, who was instrumental in helping to get Michael “home”. Michael was preceded in death by the love of his life, Timothy Belflower in 2017, his “Dad” Kenneth Rater, Sr. all of his beloved grandparents, several aunts, uncles & cousins, sister-in-law Danell Friesner, nephew Dustin Friesner, and his precious dog Max. I would like to extend the biggest, most sincere, heartfelt thank-you to all of Michael’s Angels that made it possible for him to make it home...Dr. Karanth and the physicians and staff at Augusta University Medical Center in Augusta, GA, his night nurse, Angela, Christopher w/ Respiratory Therapy, Joni & Josh w/Southeast Homecare, Tyron Transportation, the staff @ Augusta Regional Airport, all of the wonderful staff with American Airlines in Augusta and Charlotte (especially Pilot Jared & his crew Austin/Ericka/Susan), the EMT staff at the DSM Airport, Mercy Ambulance in DSM, ALL of the staff at Taylor House Hospice, Ankeny HS Class of ’74, everyone who donated to his GoFundMe to help bring him home, his dearest friends who called him numerous times EVERY SINGLE DAY while in the hospital and who visited him in hospice and provided so much laughter and love in his final days (Mark, Dusty, Pat, Jeffery, Lili, Mitch, Larry, Rusty, Chad, Bobby, & David), and to my team of Angels and friends who allowed me to be gone and care for my brother, my dear friend Debra @ Dyamond Memorial for her compassion & expertise, my dear friend Rick Hornberg & Buddy for your support, advice & puppy snuggles, our best friends who ALWAYS make sure we are taken care and that we eat, Chip & Michelle Murrow, my Aunt Kathy & Uncle Keith Sevenbergen and their daughter Staci Arnold for the heartfelt care packages they sent to Michael in the hospital, and to Peggy & Ronnie Stokes and their daughter Stephanie Little for being there for Michael all of his years in Georgia and for treating him like family and being there for him in his final months. I want you all to know how very much I love and appreciate you all for everything you have done for Michael, for me, and for my family, for the love, prayers donations, humor, food, hugs, phone calls and the list goes on and on... Thank you and God Bless... ~jami

Michael Joe Halferty Rater

June 4, 1956 - April 27, 2019