Ruth Miriam Siems (1931-2005) Inventor of Stove Top Stuffing

The Women of Evansville & Newburgh, IN

Ruth Miriam Siems (1931-2005)
Inventor of Stove Top Stuffing
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by Carolyn Ann Howard

Ruth Miriam Siems was born at Deaconess Hospital (Midtown), Evansville, Indiana, 20 Feb 1931 to Werner Siems and Ruth Matilda Louise Kroeger. Both Werner and Ruth's lineage can be easily traced to Germany. Werner's father was born in Altenebstorf and Ruth's grandfather was born in Hannover. Both Werner and Ruth were staunch Missouri Synod Lutherans who became members Sof The Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer in Evansville, Indiana after it was first opened 01 Dec 1928.

Ruth Siems
Courtesy Find-A-Grave

Werner Siems, an Iowa native, graduated from Concordia Teacher's College in River Forest, Illinois.  He then received a bachelor's degree from what was then called Evansville College, now The University of Evansville. His master's degree was from Indiana University. His life's work was as the principal of what was then called Redeemer Lutheran School, now Evansville Lutheran School. He also taught Sunday School at Redeemer Church on Sunday mornings and, for many years, was also the organist and choir director. [1] Ruth's mother was a kindergarten teacher at Harper Elementary in Evansville, IN. [2] (Click on photos to enlarge.) 

Redeemer Lutheran Church and School, 1929
816 Jefferson Street, Evansville
Courtesy: Historic Evansville

Werner and Ruth's eldest daughter, Ruth Miriam Siems, was a creative child. She loved to sew and craft, and, like her mother, according to Ruth's long-time friend, June Schwengel, Ruth was a talented cook. She made handwoven dresses and handbags. She took piano lessons from Marian Armstrong Vining at Evansville College. June thinks that Ruth, from her girlhood, knew that she wanted to be a home economist. Indeed, Ruth graduated from Purdue University in 1953 with a degree in Home Economics. While at Purdue, she also worked on the student magazine, The Scientist, and was pledged for the Gold Peppers Honor Society. She was a member of Zeta Tau Alpha, a women's fraternity founded to "intensify friendship and promote happiness." [3]

After her graduation from Purdue, she came back to Evansville to work for what had been the old Igleheart Mill, which had been bought out by General Foods in 1926. [4]  She worked in Product Research and Development, testing, among other things, Swans Down flour and cake mixes as part of Quality Control. June Schwengel mused that her cousin, Jane Wibbeler, who, according to her obit, was a secretary at Igleheart, "got sick of eating cake everyday!" After about four years of employment, Ruth, along with Jane, were tapped to work for a new General Foods Research Laboratory in White Plains, New York. The women settled in nearby Tarrytown, becoming roommates.

In the meantime, The Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer, in 1955, moved from their first location on Jefferson Avenue to a brand new building on Lincoln Avenue, across from what was then Evansville College. In my opinion, this church is one of the most beautiful churches in the world. I might be a bit biased, as I am a member there. The new build was of a modified Gothic design, designed by architect Jack Kinkle with general construction by Thorp Construction. [8] After the congregation moved to its new location, the growing Redeemer Lutheran School would take over the previous building on Jefferson Avenue until 1971. (Click on photos to enlarge)

Redeemer Lutheran Chancel
Taken from the balcony
Carolyn Ann Howard Collection

Present day
Courtesy: Google Maps
Proper Attribution Given

According to newspaper clippings, there was $40,000 budgeted for an organ "eventually to be installed." [9] But what was installed in 1955 was not a $40,000 pipe organ but a Hammond electronic organ, which the new Google AI feature says most likely cost less than $3,000. The Harding & Miller Music Company, located in downtown Evansville, was the proud seller of the organ to the church. Nor was Harding & Miller ignorant of this fabulous sale, taking out ads in the newspaper to let everyone know that Redeemer had installed one of their Hammond organs in their sanctuary. In a 1956 advertisement in the Sunday Courier & Press, Alfred Winter, the pastor of Redeemer at that time, allegedly had this to say of the organ: 

Certainly the glorious music of the Hammond gave added beauty to our Christmas services. In fact, its rich range of hundreds of beautiful church tones enhances all the music of the church. [10]

Color me skeptical that this quote came from any pastor's mouth, but anything can happen. At any rate, the Hammond organ would last less than 15 years. In 1968, the church installed its 53-rank Werner A. Siems Memorial Schlicker pipe organ, in honor of Ruth's father. It was dedicated March 31, 1968 with a concert by its consultant, Oswald G. Ragatz, Professor of Organ at Indiana University. [11] Specs for the organ can be found on our local American Guild of Organist's web site here. (Opens in a new window.) 

Redeemer's 1968 53-rank Schlicker organ
Courtesy Evansville Chapter
American Guild of Organists

In New York, Ruth was involved at Trinity Lutheran Church (LCMS) in Scarsdale, New York, which was near Tarrytown. She was active there, teaching Sunday school and being involved in the music program. Her roommate, Jane, however, had been a member at Methodist Temple here in Evansville, so she became active in the local Methodist Church. Unlike Ruth, Jane eventually returned to Evansville and married Norman Schmitt. "Ruth never seemed interested in being married," June continued. 

In a 1968 article in The Evansville Courier, Ann Hamman stated that Ruth was "at the moment involved in work on Minute Rice and Minute Rice mixes." [5] Indeed, General Foods owned many number one brands, including Jell-O, Maxwell House, and Post cereals, and all were in big demand with the new post-war class of working woman. Additionally, the company invested $100 million per year on the research and development of more and more convenience products. [6]

Ruth's biggest accomplishment came in 1971. Food companies across the board had been experimenting with boxed stuffing, but she is the one who came up with the idea of using yeast-based bread for texture and flavor, and also found the exactly correct size that each piece of stuffing would have to be in order to stand up to the addition of water when reconstituted. And so, Stove Top Stuffing was born. In the test market that was to follow, Ruth and her team would travel to see if home cooks were following the box directions and if the stuffing could hold up with either 10 percent below or above the correct amount of water. [7]

In 1985, Philip Morris bought General Foods for an astounding $5.8 billion in cash and laid off all workers over the age of 50, which included Ruth. [12] I don't know for sure, but I imagine that she was devastated, as it seems she very much enjoyed her work. She didn't seem to be lacking financially, however, and in 1987, she moved back to southwestern Indiana. Once here, she bought the now historic Cutteridge-Curtis home in Newburgh, Indiana. There, according to her obit, she collected and restored antique spinning wheels and looms. She continued to craft and to sew. She was also involved with the Newburgh Women's Club and admitted in an interview to eating Stove Top Stuffing "regularly." [13]

In her retirement, she became active once again in the church of her girlhood, The Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer. She helped to count the money and played in the handbell choir. She funded two different student's college careers at The University of Evansville and, according to Pastor Tom Wenig, "She was faithful in trying to keep [someone else's] head above water." [14] 

Cutteridge-Curtis Home
Google Maps
Proper Attribution Given

Ruth died suddenly in her Newburgh home in 2005 of a heart attack. Her obituary was featured in newspapers all across the nation and tributes poured in from everywhere. She was 74.

In nearby Santa Claus, Indiana, is a theme park called Holiday World. The Thanksgiving section features a coaster ride named "Good Gravy." A giant box of Stove Top Stuffing is featured in the ride as a tribute to "Ruth's stuffing." [15]

© 2024 by December Moonlight Publishing, LLC

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1. “Noted School Leader Werner A. Siems Dies.” The Evansville Courier, 17 Nov. 1966, p. 20.

2. “Local Deaths.” The Evansville Press, 4 Oct. 1971, p. 11.

3. “About Zeta Tau Alpha.” Zeta Tau Alpha Fraternity, zetataualpha.org/about. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024.

4. Engler, Joe. “Historic Evansville.” Historic Evansville - Igleheart Bros,                                         historicevansville.com/site.php?id=igleheart2. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024.

5. “Lutherans to Lay Cornerstone Sunday.” The Evansville Press, 28 Sept. 1954, p. 21.

6. “Redeemer Church Gets Final Touches.” The Sunday Courier and Press, 31 July 1955, p. 6.

7. “Pictorial Highlights of the Week (Advertisement).” The Sunday Courier & Press, 8 Jan 1956, p. 12.

8. Surheinrich, Jeanne. “Front Row and Center.” Evansville Courier and Press, 26 Mar. 1968, p. 5.

9. Hamman, Ann. “Food Editors Continue Tasting and Testing.” Evansville Courier, 5 Nov. 1968, p. 8.

10. Hoover, Gary. “Forgotten Giant: General Foods.” Business History - The American Business History Center, 2 Dec. 2020, americanbusinesshistory.org/forgotten-giant-general-foods/.

11. Schleper, Anne. “Stove Top Pioneer.” The Evansville Courier, 29 May 1991, p. 11.

12. “Siems, Stove Top Inventor Dies.” Daily Hampshire Gazette, 25 Nov. 2005, p. 2.

13. Schleper.

14. “Ruth Miriam Siems (1931-2005) - Find a Grave...” Find a Grave, www.findagrave.com/memorial/12497008/ruth-miriam-siems. Accessed 5 Dec. 2024.

15. “Good Gravy! Family Coaster.” Holiday World Theme Park & Splashin’ Safari Water Park, 15 Oct. 2024, holidayworld.com/rides/good-gravy/.