Phillip Martin Ide dies at age 93, Previous resident of Fairfax and Fletcher

Philip Martin Ide, 93, a past resident of Fairfax and Hartland, Vermont, died on December 17, 2023 at The Arbors in Shelburne. He was born on December 1, 1930 in Wayland, Massachusetts son of the late Nicolas and Arme (Martin) Ide. Family and friends from his youth called him Marty, and those who knew him later in life called him Phil.
Marty attended public schools in Wayland and Framingham, Massachusetts, and received his BS in Animal Husbandry in 1956 from the University of New Hampshire, where he also worked toward his Master’s degree in Education later in life. He served in the Army for two years prior to college, having joined up with his buddy John Barrell in 1950. In 1958 he married the love of his life, Elizabeth (Betty) Ann Spear.
He will be remembered by many as the Vocational Agriculture teacher and FFA leader at Bellows Free Academy, St. Albans, a job that gave him great satisfaction. Prior to that he held many different jobs, running his own logging operation and sawmill, raising heifers, and selling farm insurance. Most of them centered on the outdoors and farming.
Phil was the Town Moderator in Fairfax, Vermont, for many years, and a select board member in the town of Fletcher. He belonged to the Underhill Rod and Gun Club and was a prize-winning skeet shooter. He was also an avid fisherman and nature photographer, setting up a make-shift darkroom in a closet at his home.
He introduced his children to the outdoors. Linda fondly remembers learning the locations of many wild flowers, and both Scott and David loved to hunt and fish with him.
Philip is survived by his son David Ide, daughter Linda Ide and her husband Brad Vietje; daughter-in-law Susan Ide; brothers James Ide, Nicolas Ide and his wife Jackie; grandson Philip Vietje and his wife Dr. Phuong “Fiona” Vietje; his granddaughter Clara Ide, two great-grandchildren Chase and Colt Vietje, and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Philip was predeceased by his wife Elizabeth (Spear) Ide, son Philip Scott Ide, sisters Margaret Whitney and Sally Keller, and his sister-in-law Virginia Ide.
Visiting hours will be held on Thursday January 4, 2024, from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. at A W Rich Funeral Home – Fairfax Chapel. Inurnment will be held this spring or summer in Hartland at the convenience of the family. Memorial contributions in Philip’s memory may be made to BFA Fairfax – Philip Scott Ide Memorial Fund, 75 Hunt Street, Fairfax, VT 05454. Please visit awrfh.com to share your memories and condolences.